Tension, drama, new threads and the 8 best softball teams in the world
Oregon takes on UCLA at the College World Series from Devon Park in Oklahoma City Thursday night, televised live at 6:30 P.M. PT on ESPN2, radio on the campus station KWVA.
The Ducks are an exciting, balanced team that plays great defense, hits the long ball (85 home runs) and steals nearly three bases a game.
They took two of three from the Bruins at Jane Sanders Stadium in April, but to duplicate that, they'll have to counter the Bruins' big bats, Jordan Woolery and Megan Grant, who have blasted a total of 48 home runs with 165 RBI between them.
Oregon ace Lyndsey Grein struck out 10 and retired 19 batters in a row in the Ducks' 13-1 win over Liberty Saturday to sweep the Super Regional in Eugene. For the season she's 29-2 with a 2.08 ERA.
Bernstein, Clements call Baseball Regional at PK Park
On ESPN+, Friday night at 6 p.m. at PK Park in Eugene, Oregon meets Utah Valley in a first-round game in the NCAA Regional Baseball Tournament.
Roxy Bernstein and Wes Clements will call the action. New seats are available for what will be a beautiful night for baseball.
All-time Oregon home run leader Jacob Walsh told the press yesterday that the home crowd energy remains a vital part of winning in the tournament setting. Walsh said, "When good things happen, the energy starts to come and it just builds momentum. And that's huge. You see it in every sport. Momentum is a real thing, and I'm excited to be able to have that this weekend in front of our fans."
The senior knows he's probably playing his last-ever games at PK Park. He told Jared Mack of 247Sports, "Just try to enjoy it. Be able to take a step back during some of those games and look around and just enjoy where I've been. The last four years have been awesome. I've done that a few times this year. During a pitching change or in the dugout, kind of just look around, look at everything, and take it all in. It's pretty cool."
Oregon football recruiting: Richard Wesley clarifies, Edwards down to final 5
Jonathan Wesley, father of elite five-star edge rusher Richard Wesley, who decommitted from the Ducks yesterday after plunging into the pool with Dan Lanning a couple of Sundays ago, offered a clarification on his son's status.
Another five-star recruit, safety Jireh Edwards, a 6-2, 192 safety from St. Frances High School in Baltimore, visits Oregon on June 20-22. He announces his decision on July 5th.
There's a strong, sometimes forgotten asset in Oregon recruiting. The campus and the stadium and its environs are beautiful, especially as spring turns to summer.
Oregon basketball recruiting: Ducks reach out to four-star point guard
Desmond Claude, a 6-6 point guard from USC and Putnam Science Academy in Oakdale, Connecticut, has been hearing from the Ducks after entering the transfer portal.
Claude averaged 15.8 points per game and 4.2 assists for the Trojans last year.